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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was so excited to read this book and so prepared to love it. The Mercies is one of my favourite books I have ever read, and whilst I have also read The Deathless Girls and was underwhelmed, I figured it was because TDG is a YA novel and The Mercies was an adult novel with a different style of prose.
The Dance Tree is beautifully written, but it lacks the poetry of The Mercies. Maybe it’s wrong to keep comparing these books, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed by everything The Dance Tree lacked. I listened to the audiobook, and the first 7 hours dragged past ponderously as I struggled to stay engaged. At hour 8, the action happened and suddenly I was emotionally invested. But then…2 remaining hours of pointless repetition. And an unsatisfying ending that petered out into nothing.
I’m still giving this 3 stars because I wanted to stick with it to the end, whilst I would just DNF without guilt if I really couldn’t hack it. Unfortunately the plot reminded me a lot of The Miniaturist, a book I LOATHED, and it was difficult to ignore the similarities.
The Dance Tree is beautifully written, but it lacks the poetry of The Mercies. Maybe it’s wrong to keep comparing these books, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed by everything The Dance Tree lacked. I listened to the audiobook, and the first 7 hours dragged past ponderously as I struggled to stay engaged. At hour 8, the action happened and suddenly I was emotionally invested. But then…2 remaining hours of pointless repetition. And an unsatisfying ending that petered out into nothing.
I’m still giving this 3 stars because I wanted to stick with it to the end, whilst I would just DNF without guilt if I really couldn’t hack it. Unfortunately the plot reminded me a lot of The Miniaturist, a book I LOATHED, and it was difficult to ignore the similarities.
The horrors that authority and men with power can inflict on women, and their only salvation is the wild abandon of choosing their own death, and fate willing, their own life. Women treated like the bees they keep: only good for the product they make, their only value in what they give to men. One ill-fated, burning-hot summer, women start to dance and will not stop. Not for their men, not for death, not for anything. Emotional, evocative prose, vivid characters, and based on a fascinating and unsettling historic event which still draws speculation to this day, The Dance Tree is a heart-rending but breathtaking experience.
dark
emotional
sad
emotional
tense
medium-paced
What was it like to be a woman in the 16th century? A queer woman? A Brown skinned man? These are questions this story asks. In an often frightening time, one woman faces one loss after another until she is finally forced to make a sacrifice in order to find her own happiness.
The Dancing Plague of 1518 is a real event that is still an unsolved mystery. The best book I’ve read about it is also recommended by the author: A Time To Dance, A Time To Die.
Dancing trees were also a real thing of the time, and some pagans still carry on the tradition today.
TW: this story contains homophobia, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, pregnancy loss, mental health issues.
The Dancing Plague of 1518 is a real event that is still an unsolved mystery. The best book I’ve read about it is also recommended by the author: A Time To Dance, A Time To Die.
Dancing trees were also a real thing of the time, and some pagans still carry on the tradition today.
TW: this story contains homophobia, misogyny, racism, xenophobia, pregnancy loss, mental health issues.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I think I would have liked this more if I hadn't read the description. I expected it to focus more on the women dancing or specific stories of those in the mania. Instead, vignettes of dancers serve to mark the progress of the craze.
The themes of the book were compelling - role of religious institutions in society, gender and sexuality, race, motherhood and pregnancy loss. Yet the plot was slow and the writing at times too metaphorical to follow. I wanted to know how the story lines ended, so I stuck with it.
The themes of the book were compelling - role of religious institutions in society, gender and sexuality, race, motherhood and pregnancy loss. Yet the plot was slow and the writing at times too metaphorical to follow. I wanted to know how the story lines ended, so I stuck with it.
We have come so far, and not nearly far enough
This is a book worth reading and discussing. As I was contemplating how I felt about this book and what I wanted to say, one thing was evident, we have come so far, and not nearly far enough. I read this later as something the author states in the acknowledgment as well. So far this year, this is a book I recommend to be read. It is a historical-cultural fiction that well-roundedly addresses the imperfections, biases, and poignant issues of society that are still reflective of today, over 500 years later. The story focuses around a true historical event that occurred in Strasbourg in 1518 in which a dancing hysteria consumes the city for two months during a summer with famine and drought conditions in a highly superstitious and religiously controlled state, seen primarily through the eyes of a young naive woman coming into her own in a difficult and restrictive environment. While some parts seem like they would be a stretch there are many parts very real and were felt deeply. This book will be on my mind for some time.
This is a book worth reading and discussing. As I was contemplating how I felt about this book and what I wanted to say, one thing was evident, we have come so far, and not nearly far enough. I read this later as something the author states in the acknowledgment as well. So far this year, this is a book I recommend to be read. It is a historical-cultural fiction that well-roundedly addresses the imperfections, biases, and poignant issues of society that are still reflective of today, over 500 years later. The story focuses around a true historical event that occurred in Strasbourg in 1518 in which a dancing hysteria consumes the city for two months during a summer with famine and drought conditions in a highly superstitious and religiously controlled state, seen primarily through the eyes of a young naive woman coming into her own in a difficult and restrictive environment. While some parts seem like they would be a stretch there are many parts very real and were felt deeply. This book will be on my mind for some time.